Bring it on!

When should we start encouraging developmentally delayed teens to learn life skills?

In the case of two of our teenagers, their behaviour answered that question for us. As a result, we developed a mentoring programme which enhances our Bridging Programme. This helps mentor teenagers who must move from Xining Children's Home into an adult world.

Bin Bin and Jou will be moving to the Xining Social Welfare Institute when they turn 18 in a year’s time.  Bin Bin has Apert Syndrome and has endured several painful surgeries. Jou’s vision is not clear, and he also suffers from some developmental delays.

Both boys regularly wandered into the Christian Action office during lunch times, eager to engage with Christian Action staff. Typical of teenagers, they also liked to spend time playing on the computer. Our social workers based in Qinghai noticed that both boys were very computer literate, so they decided to formalize the lunch hour visits.

(Left) Certificate of Recognition for Bin Bin. (Right) Jou is proud of his achievements.

First they asked the boys if they’d like to participate in what has become a mentoring programme.  When they agreed, a two-hour schedule and set of rules was laid down, as well as a dress code. The boys are officially 'working' and have to give 24 hours notice if they are not going to turn up for their shifts.  Because there is only one computer for them to share, they attend on alternating days.

In spite of Bin Bin's Apert Syndrome he has overcome many physical and intellectual obstacles and is quite high functioning. He is very computer literate, and loves to take pictures using Christian Action’s basic model digital camera. But he tends to avoid routine jobs like counting stock and scanning documents!  Since joining this programme, he has more self control and better social skills, with far fewer temper tantrums than before.  

Jou is very patient and diligent about meeting his responsiblities. He loves to chat to his friends online, but understands that work comes first.

When the pilot programme ended in February, the boys were presented with Certificates of Participation, recognizing the valuable life skills they had acquired.